New to quail, need some questions answered

[Slaz Quail]

They do, they need a minimum of 24% throughout their life and ideally closer to 28-30% as chicks/before 6 weeks of age.

What can i do to supplement the missing protein?

 

[CoturnixComplex]

What can i do to supplement the missing protein?

So, you can supplement with things like cooked egg and bulk freeze dried insects (mealworms or preferably black soldier fly larvae), but that's honestly going to be a LOT more expensive than trying to get a gamebird feed. I would call around to all your local feed stores/tractor supply stores and see who has anything in the 24% range. When you find it, buy a few bags. I live hours away from anywhere that carries it so I tend to grab 100lbs or more at a time. My brand of choice is the Purina gamebird feed (they have a few different formulations but the "startena" has 30% protein, and you can always mix it with other feeds to bring up the total protein closer to 25%), but anything with a high enough protein mix is fine.

 

[nchls school]

My questions are;
What is the estimated time will they start producing eggs? 8-10 weeks; possibly sooner.

Can my neighbors back lights/street light mess with the egg production? Doubtful. Mine are laying. There's a heat lamp for chicks nearby; on 24 hours a day.

Any tips and tricks will also be appreciated.[/QUOTE] I find that layer mash for chickens works well to induce egg production' I supplement this with higher protein foods.

 

[nchls school]

Hard boiled eggs chopped up shells and all-protein and calcium.

 

[fire370]

You can boost with soybean meal (40%-50% protein) or fish meal (approx 70% protein). I utilize both in all of my livestock, swine and poultry feeds. If adding to bagged feed you’ll need to figure out the percentage needed of both to achieve the protein level desired.

 

[Slaz Quail]

You can boost with soybean meal (40%-50% protein) or fish meal (approx 70% protein). I utilize both in all of my livestock, swine and poultry feeds. If adding to bagged feed you’ll need to figure out the percentage needed of both to achieve the protein level desired.

How can i find out how much i need to add to the feed i have already.

 

[fire370]

How can i find out how much i need to add to the feed i have already.

If you are feeding 20% now and want to be at 28%, it would be a 5:1 ratio with fish meal. 5# of your 20% to 1# of fish meal. If you went 10:1 ratio it would yield you a little over 24%.

 

[Crazydoglady99]

Boiled eggs are only 12% protein.. rolled oats are the same.

I'd probably try something like insects (crickets and mealworms are very easy to breed yourself), or if you are going to use boiled eggs mash them with a bit of protein powder.
Fishmeal -as in fish food, but check the ingredients for weird stuff like colour enhancers.

 

[fire370]

If you are feeding 20% now and want to be at 28%, it would be a 5:1 ratio with fish meal. 5# of your 20% to 1# of fish meal. If you went 10:1 ratio it would yield you a little over 24%.

When I say fish meal, I do not mean fish food as referenced by another poster. Feed grade fish meal is what I’m talking about.